Greater Kuduland

[BAO]

Ok fellas, I am going in 2007.  What are the blinds like?  I want to practice under like conditions and thought of building a mockup so it is realistic.  Any thoughts will be much appreciated.

[8th Dwarf]

Well, I guess I'm the guy to contact.  I have hunted there 13 times and did a lot of the design work on the blinds.  Blind windows are probably, on the average, 30" wide and 20-24" high.  Almost all are covered with shoot-through, camo netting.

Howard Knott, the PH, has two ranches (he and his family OWN them, which is far better than having concession rights).  At Tshipise the blinds are all dug into the ground and built of rock and cement.  Our shot averages the last few years have been around 11 yards.  I've had shots at 2 yards and some at 20 yards, but by-and-large, the game is CLOSE!

At the All Days ranch, there are 2-3 blinds built the same and then the balance of the blinds are large huts made from reeds.  They are solid and invisible to the game.  Shooting windows are taller than wider...probably 30" tall by 16" wide.  You would be standing at ground level to shoot.  These blinds also have shoot-through, camo netting.

Last year, a drought year, I had as many as 300 animals watering in front of one blind in a day!  Howard manages his property for trophy game and does not come even close to over hunting it.  It has to be one of Africa's finest bowhunting areas.  His ranches are huge with varied terrain for stalking, too.

Email me directly for further info at [email protected]  I book a bunch of hunters in to Greater Kuduland, BUT I DO NOT GET PAID TO DO IT!  In other words, I have nothing to gain by helping you book in with Howard.  Right now, our 2007 hunts are full from July 13-August 30.  Only a cancelation will offer a slot.  You can contact Howard Knott directly at [email protected] and let him know you got some info from .....

Too Short

[8th Dwarf]

Ha!  I just figured out that was you, Brian!  Dang, I'm stupid with computers!  I'm sure you'll get plenty of other responses...

Color me igorant!

Too Short

[John3]

Paul,

I did get your email tonight.. I have sent an E to Steve asking him to set up my air travel...
You know I am getting EXCITED !  We will be in Johannesburg the morning of July 29,2007 !!!  


Sanderlin III

[cch]

The only thing I can add is to practice canting your bow. There were a few blind's that I had to squat and cant my bow to shoot out of. But most were very comfortable. I am 6'4" tall and really didn't find any difficulty in shooting out of them. I put up some cardboard in my garage window and cut out a section  and put shoot through netting on it to shoot through. Everything looks farther away when looking through those holes and even a 15 yd shot starts to look a long way out there.

I didn't have the quatity of animals as I was expecting but we were there early and the large lakes still had lot's of water in them. But I was still able to get all of the animals I was after with 4 day's to spare. Good luck, You will have a blast. Chris.

[Rick McGowan]

I think one of the most deceptive things is the blinds that have the windows at ground level, you are actually shooting UP at the animals, to me it made them look farther away than they actually were. I had animals, such as wildebeest close enough that I could have reached through the shooting window and touched them!

[8th Dwarf]

Funny about how Chris and I approach this thing about our respective heights!  Since Howard set up the blinds and he is about 5'9", I have to bring a couple of boulders in to some of the blinds so that I can stand up high enough to shoot!

Did you see some of my rocks in the blinds, Chris?  Short is PERFECT!  Tall is an ABERATION!

Too F. Short

[cch]

Paul, I didn't see any rocks. Short is only good for flying coach. I think you should trade me your upgraded tickets for my coach the next time I fly.

[8th Dwarf]

I believe it was Buddy Holly who had the song that started out, "That'll be the day..."!

Too Short

[doctorbrady]

Hey guys,
Be on the lookout for those wild lions that were on the National Whitetail Association's TV show!!!  Paul, I did send them a nasty little email, but they have failed to reply.....go figure.  Brady

[BAO]

Thanks for the info fellas.  It sounds like the blinds are spacious. I am assuming a long bow in the  66"-70" range is not going to be a problem.  By the way, where does one buy shoot thru netting for practice?

[cch]

BAO I got mine through Double Bull Blinds. You can get it 5' wide by however long you want. I brought down 20 something feet of it with me and they really liked that.

Some of the blinds will be a little tight with a bow that long but most will be fine. E-mail me if you have any questions. [email protected]

[8th Dwarf]

Brian...

I would not go over 66" if I were you.  How tall are you?  That may be critical.  Also important would be your draw length.  Let me know that info.  Use my regular email addy, or reply right here.

Cabela's has the netting.  If you just want a couple of pieces of it, email me and I'll cut some and mail it to you.  A couple of pieces is all you would need.  You don't even see it when you're shooting at an animal.

Also, you can disconnect it from the blind windows, or even part of the window, if you prefer shooting without it.  I found it to be no problem at all...heck, I even shot stone points through it and they flew right to the mark!

Howard has a pit and window at Tshipise, so that you can practice daily there during the middle of the day...that is, if you can tear youself away from the pool and the bikinis!

One of my buddies who is coming is bringing his "secretary"...or is it his "neice"!  Heh, heh, heh!

Way Too F. Short

[RL]

Brian,
When I was in South Africa my PH would duct tape the netting to the inside of the shooting window. By doing so, we could lower the netting down half way the last half hour of shooting light. It is difficult to pick a spot looking through the netting during the last half hour of shooting light. Another bonus is that if you have a point-and-shoot camera you can shove the little lens through a broadhead slit in the netting and get a good picture. You will get no good pictures shooting through the netting.
Rick